Page 17 - Islands Business May 2023

Aviation

ROUTE MAP: UPDATES FROM THE

REGION’S AIRLINES
BRIDGING THE PACIFIC Australia, some on codeshare arrangements. government landed in Funafuti this month. The Twin Otter
Aircalin: Now flying to Paris, Singapore, Papeete and
T2-TV8 will operate on inter-island routes with an October
Air Nauru: Brisbane-headquartered Air Nauru launched its
start date.
Vancouver island-hopper service last October, which runs weekly from Air Vanuatu: In November last year, new Prime Minister
Brisbane to Nauru, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Pohnpei Ishmael Kalsakau described Air Vanuatu as a ‘mess’ before
(Federated States of Micronesia) and is subsidised by the replacing the CEO and Board. Since then, mechanical issues
Australian government. Air Nauru also recommenced its forced the two-week grounding of Air Vanuatu’s only Boe-
Tokyo San Francisco Fiji service last October. The airline is also undertaking a ing 737 in April, affecting flights to Brisbane, Sydney and
Los Angeles feasibility study into running a regular freight service to Auckland. An Australian-funded assessment of Air Vanuatu’s
Marshall Islands. The government there declared a state of finances recommended paying down its debt to Air Lease
Doha Dubai Hong Kong Taipei emergency after the US grounded Guam-based Asia Pacific Corporation for lease of its aircraft, and that the Board
Airlines, leaving the country with no air cargo service for engage more appropriately with the airline’s staff—at one
Manila
three months. Asia Pacific Airlines recommenced service in stage it was meeting several times a week. Meanwhile, the
early May. airline is working with Solomon Airlines to expand their re-
Singapore Air Niugini: PNG’s State Enterprises Minister has sig- spective international networks, has restarted direct flights
nalled PNG’s plans to acquire new aircraft, and to build a between Brisbane and Santo, and will add flights on the Port
Port Moresby HONIARA K$70million hangar in Port Moresby. Acting CEO Gary Seddon Vila-Auckland route in June.
told local media they want to order 11 regional jets and, Samoa Airways: This troubled airline (formerly Polynesian
in the meantime, expect to receive six additional leased Airways) had to terminate a lease late last year for a B737-
Port Vila Nadi aircraft by this September. Air Niugini commenced weekly 800, incurring US$4.6million in penalties. It continues to
Brisbane services connecting Australia, PNG and Palau in February. use three DHC-8-300s domestically. Fiji Airways, Qantas, Air
Australia’s Pacific Flight Programme is underwriting the ser- New Zealand and Virgin Australia all provide international
vice during its initial phase. Recent problems with its fuel connections to Samoa. Samoa Airways still has a tax debt
supplier, Puma Energy, has seen the airline ground some and is carrying old debts totalling ST$30 million, according
Auckland
International Connection domestic flights. to local media.
Christchurch Air Rarotonga: The Cook Islands airline is code sharing Solomon Airlines: The airline had to ground its sole Airbus
Solomons Airlines Route
services between Rarotonga and Tahiti with Air Tahiti. A320 for almost a fortnight in April due to fuel contamina-
Codeshare partners
Air Tahiti Nui: This year marks the 25th anniversary of tion issues. The cause of that problem is being investigated.
Interline Partners the airline’s operations. It uses Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, The plane is also scheduled to be out of action for two
which it says have cut its carbon footprint by up to 30%. The weeks in May for scheduled maintenance. Solomon Air-
resumption of Narita-Tahiti services is planned for October, lines is looking to lease a second aircraft (ex-Jetstar stock)
and a Papeete-Seattle, and Seattle-Paris service is now by July/August to run charters during the Pacific Games,
operating. The airline’s growth is somewhat limited by hotel seasonal work charters, and potentially provide services to
and resort room inventory. Tonga and Samoa in the longer term.
Air Tuvalu: The first aircraft to be owned by the Tuvalu

Flying to the Solomons is easy with four weekly flights from Brisbane, and once weekly service to Nadi and Vila.
Effective from Monday 5 June 2023, Solomon Airlines will commence operating a third frequency between
Port Vila and Auckland for Air Vanuatu. Continued from page 15 reducing the cost of safety oversight. Tohi says developing
Depart Port Vila to Auckland on Mondays with return services from Auckland to Port Vila operating on Tuesdays.
Also new direct flights between Brisbane and Santo, in Vanuatu, on Thursdays. world class manuals for airlines to use to ensure they comply
countries they haven’t translated into the appointment of with global standards could be another contribution.
local inspectors, as many of those who undergo training do “If we can help the airlines with that aspect, which is the
INTERNATIONAL OFFICE SOLOMON ISLANDS OFFICE not have requisite pilot, aircraft maintenance engineer or baseline, we’re talking minimum requirements, if we can get
Australia Reservations, Reservations, air traffic control licenses. Tohi says a better option would that sorted out, I reckon it will be a very big improvement to
1300 894 311 or +61 738605883 177 or +677 44999 be to recruit people who already have those licenses, train the way they currently operate and implement.”
He observes that some airline CEOs lack strong technical
reservations@flysolomons.com Head Office: them further in inspection processes, and then pay them backgrounds.
Level 1, International Terminal, +677 20031 competitively. “A lot of them are from commercial finance. So if they
He has also provided members with a list of other services
Brisbane Airport, QLD 4008, Australia www.flysolomons.com ASPA could provide, including internal audits before they are
audited by their national authority, improving efficiencies and Continued on page 20

Islands Business, May 2023 17